Homework and study are two different things that are both very important to making the most of learning. Homework can be work set by teachers that gives students more practise at what was taught in class. Study is where students do more practise to put what they have learned into their long-term memory.
Every student must develop the habit of ‘home study’. Time should be found each day to revise earlier work, prepare summaries and practice the skills in each subject. This homework is constant and students should be organising their time to gain as much home study as possible.
Homework for Years 7-12
In Years 7-12 homework should be set on a regular basis in most subjects.
As students move into the senior school, the homework and study demands will increase. However, students will be able to, at times, negotiate the amount, type and time frame of their homework.
Time for homework
Students may be undertaking homework, reading, study and assessment task preparation. Sometimes longer time may be needed, due to assessment tasks. Indicated times for five nights of the week and are given as a guide only. It is important that if students do not have set homework, that they should read novels, etc.
Year Level Time per night
Year 7 30 minutes
Year 8 1 hour
Year 9 1 hour 30 minutes
Year 10 2 hours
Year 11 2 hours 30 minutes
Year 12 3 hours
What can Parents/Caregivers do to help?
- Take an active interest in your child's homework. Comment favourably on any progress made.
- Support your child in setting aside time each day for homework. Commend them for the work they are doing and it may be possible to encourage them to do more. If your child is completing the prescribed amounts of homework, don’t criticise them for not doing more.
- Provide a dedicated place for homework and study if possible
- Assist teachers to monitor homework by signing completed work if requested, and be aware of the amount of homework set
- Communicate with teachers any concerns about the nature of homework or your child's approach to homework
- Encourage your children to read and take an interest in current events
- Alert the school to any domestic circumstances or extra-curricular activities which may need to be taken into consideration when homework is being set or marked
Studying becomes a habit if you always use the same table or desk.
This should be:
- Free of all distracting things such as social media and texts
- Equipped with a ruler, pencils, scribbling paper, dictionary and mathematics equipment
- Away from distracting conversation and interruptions
- Well lit, so that there is no shadow on your work
Plan your study
Don’t wait until you feel like studying. You probably never will. Make a timetable (use a pencil at first to allow for changes), then leave some time free and divide the rest between study and recreation (e.g. sport, reading, T.V. and hobbies).
Be realistic and try to follow these rules:
- Don’t make your study program too difficult; remember that you should be able to follow it strictly
- Avoid times when you may be too tired to study, or when study sessions would clash with more enjoyable activities
- Plan for revision and homework, in addition to study
- Divide your day’s study time among several subjects and have a short break after each
- Study your weaker subjects first, when you are fresh, and devote more time to them
The more you study, the easier it becomes. Everyone finds studying difficult at first. Work throughout the year, not just before exams and follow these hints:
- Try not to miss any learning time. If you must be absent, make sure you fill in all your notes for the missed time
- Get into the habit of taking all required books and equipment into the classroom and remember to take home the books you need for homework and study
- While taking notes, listen very carefully for the important points and make them stand out in your note book by effective use of headings, underlining and numbering
- Read your notes when you get home while the lesson is still fresh in your mind
- Question the teacher or your friends about any points you don’t understand and fill in your notes
- Try not to miss any study sessions and always start right on time
- If the work seems hard when you first start studying, don’t give up – it gets easier as you practice
- Estimate the time required to learn part of the work you are studying, then try to avoid daydreaming by keeping to your time estimates
- Study actively. Always write down the important points of whatever you are studying. Make summaries; rewriting the material in your own words. Test yourself continuously, and ask others to test you. Recalling is the most important part of studying
- Don’t just learn, over learn –know it by heart – just like walking and talking and eating – make it automatic!